EP0424950A2 - Afficheur tête haute avec élément polarisant - Google Patents

Afficheur tête haute avec élément polarisant Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0424950A2
EP0424950A2 EP90120553A EP90120553A EP0424950A2 EP 0424950 A2 EP0424950 A2 EP 0424950A2 EP 90120553 A EP90120553 A EP 90120553A EP 90120553 A EP90120553 A EP 90120553A EP 0424950 A2 EP0424950 A2 EP 0424950A2
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
imaging illumination
windshield
display
head
air interface
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP90120553A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Other versions
EP0424950A3 (en
Inventor
Mark E. Mcdonald
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Raytheon Co
Original Assignee
Hughes Aircraft Co
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Hughes Aircraft Co filed Critical Hughes Aircraft Co
Publication of EP0424950A2 publication Critical patent/EP0424950A2/fr
Publication of EP0424950A3 publication Critical patent/EP0424950A3/en
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

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    • G—PHYSICS
    • G02—OPTICS
    • G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
    • G02B27/00—Optical systems or apparatus not provided for by any of the groups G02B1/00 - G02B26/00, G02B30/00
    • G02B27/0018—Optical systems or apparatus not provided for by any of the groups G02B1/00 - G02B26/00, G02B30/00 with means for preventing ghost images
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G02—OPTICS
    • G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
    • G02B27/00—Optical systems or apparatus not provided for by any of the groups G02B1/00 - G02B26/00, G02B30/00
    • G02B27/01—Head-up displays
    • G02B27/0101—Head-up displays characterised by optical features
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G02—OPTICS
    • G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
    • G02B27/00—Optical systems or apparatus not provided for by any of the groups G02B1/00 - G02B26/00, G02B30/00
    • G02B27/02—Viewing or reading apparatus
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G02—OPTICS
    • G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
    • G02B27/00—Optical systems or apparatus not provided for by any of the groups G02B1/00 - G02B26/00, G02B30/00
    • G02B27/01—Head-up displays
    • G02B27/0101—Head-up displays characterised by optical features
    • G02B2027/0118—Head-up displays characterised by optical features comprising devices for improving the contrast of the display / brillance control visibility
    • G02B2027/012—Head-up displays characterised by optical features comprising devices for improving the contrast of the display / brillance control visibility comprising devices for attenuating parasitic image effects
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G02—OPTICS
    • G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
    • G02B27/00—Optical systems or apparatus not provided for by any of the groups G02B1/00 - G02B26/00, G02B30/00
    • G02B27/01—Head-up displays
    • G02B2027/0192—Supplementary details
    • G02B2027/0194—Supplementary details with combiner of laminated type, for optical or mechanical aspects
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G02—OPTICS
    • G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
    • G02B5/00—Optical elements other than lenses
    • G02B5/30—Polarising elements

Definitions

  • the disclosed invention is directed generally to head-up displays for vehicles, and more particularly is directed to a head-up display which provides for reduced ghost image intensity.
  • Head-up displays are utilized in vehicles such as automobiles to produce virtual images of vehicle operating parameter indicators that appear to be ahead of the vehicle windshield and are therefore viewable by the vehicle operator without diversion of his or her eyes to an instrument panel inside the vehicle and without refocusing.
  • a known head-up display technique involves utilizing a vehicle windshield surface as a beam­splitter for partially reflecting imaging illumination incident thereon.
  • a vehicle windshield surface as a beam­splitter for partially reflecting imaging illumination incident thereon.
  • secondary or ghost images are produced.
  • ghost image intensity can be sufficiently bright relative to the primary or main image intensity so as to be objectionable.
  • Another advantage would be to provide a head-up display for vehicles provides for high contrast of primary image to ghost image.
  • a head-up display which includes a vehicle windshield having first and second opposing air interfaces for partially reflecting imaging illumina­tion at a predetermined air interface to produce a primary virtual image viewable by the operator of the vehicle, and further includes a polarization rotating element interposed between the first and second air interfaces of the windshield for rotating the linear polarization of illumination transmitted therethrough.
  • An imaging illumination source provides linearly polarized imaging illumination to the first air interface of the windshield at an angle which is selected to enhance the reflection of S-polarized light and the transmission of P-polarized light, with the polarization being selected so as to provide S-polarized imaging illumination at the predetermined beam splitting air interface.
  • a head-up vehicle instrument display system that includes an imaging illumination source 20 located in a recess in the vehicle dashboard or on the dashboard, a beam­splitter combiner element 11 that comprises a combiner region of either the inside or outside surface of a vehicle windshield 13, and a half-wave retarder 15 which is interposed between the inside and outside air interfaces of the windshield in the region of the combiner element 11.
  • the half-wave retarder 15 is embedded between the layers or singlets of a standard safety windshield.
  • the combiner element 11 partially reflects the imaging illumination toward the driver so as to produce a virtual image of an image source within the imaging illumination source 20 at a location ahead of the vehicle windshield, for example.
  • the half-wave plate 15 transmits imaging illumination thereto; and if the combiner element 11 comprises the inside air interface of the windshield, the half-wave plate 15 transmits the imaging illumination transmitted by the inside surface of the windshield (i.e., illumination not reflected by the combiner).
  • the half-wave retarder 15 should be zero-order for broad band imaging illumination, and can be multi-order for narrow band imaging illumination.
  • the peak of the half-wave retardance at the particular incidence angle should be centered at about the peak wavelength of the imaging illumination.
  • the linear polarization of the illumination that passes therethrough is rota­ted, and the subject invention advantageously utilizes that property.
  • the imaging illumination directed to the windshield is linearly polarized, with the specific polarization depending on whether the inside or outside windshield air interface is utilized as the beamsplitter for producing the main or primary image. If the combiner element is the inside wind­shield air interface, the imaging illumination directed to the windshield is controlled to be S-polarized. If the combiner element is the outside windshield air interface, the imaging illumination source is con­figured to provide P-polarized light. In the latter case, the imaging illumination incident on the outside windshield air interface is S-polarized by virtue of passing through the half-wave plate 15.
  • the incidence angle of the imaging illumination directed to the windshield is preferably sufficiently close to the Brewster's angle for the material compris­ing the windshield to provide appropriate reflection or transmission of the imaging illumination at the inside windshield air interface.
  • the Brewster's angle is 56.5 degrees relative to normal. At the glass/air Brewster's angle, 100% of the P-polarized component of incident light passes therethrough without reflection, while the S-polarized component is partially reflected.
  • the incidence angle of imaging illumination can be within a rela­tively large range while providing adequate primary-to-­ghost image contrast, for example, about 47 to 72 degrees relative to normal for glass windshields, depending on the required primary-to-ghost image contrast.
  • the invention does not impose signifi­cant limitations on the design of the windshield and dashboard.
  • the inside wind­shield air interface is utilized as the combiner element 11 and the imaging illumination source is configured to provide S-polarized light
  • the imaging illumination source is configured to provide S-polarized light
  • a large amount of the S-polarized imaging illumination will be re­flected at the inside air interface windshield to produce the primary virtual image.
  • the S-polar­ized illumination transmitted by the inside windshield surface combiner the polarization thereof is rotated by the half-wave plate so that the imaging illumination incident on the outside air interface of the windshield is P-polarized, which is generally transmitted.
  • any S-polarized imaging illumination that is reflected back from the outside windshield air inter­face will have its polarization rotated, whereby it will be P-polarized when it reaches the inside wind­shield air interface, and a significant amount of such reflected beam illumination will be reflected at the inside windshield air interface.
  • reflection of imaging illumination from the outside air interface of the windshield is significantly reduced, which signifi­cantly reduces ghost images.
  • the use of P-polarized imaging source illumination with a combiner comprising the outside windshield air interface significantly reduces reflection at the inside windshield air inter­face and thereby prevents ghost images.
  • a large amount of the P-polarized imaging illumination will be transmitted by the inside windshield air interface.
  • the half-wave retarder will rotate the polarization of the transmitted imaging illumination so that S-polarized illumination reaches the outside windshield air interface, which reflects a large amount of that imaging illumination.
  • the polarization of the reflected back imaging illumination is rotated by the half-wave retarder 15 so that P-polarized illumination reaches the inside windshield air interface which transmits a large amount of such illumination to produce the virtual image of the display.
  • reflection of imaging illumination at the inside windshield air interface is significantly reduced, which significantly reduces ghost images.
  • vehicle encompasses vehicles that include a windshield or similar trans­parent protective device, as well as vehicles that do not have windshields, in which case the combiner would be either the front or rear surface of a transparent panel located within the vehicle operator's forward field of view.
  • Polarized sunglasses will cause a scene to have differ­ent appearance when viewed through the half-wave retarder than when viewed through the remainder of the windshield.
  • Polarized sunglasses are typically con­figured to absorb polarized off-axis specular reflec­tions, commonly perceived as glare, from sources that tilt vertically (i.e., horizontally oriented sources such as a road surface). The result is a reduction in the perceived glare from sources that tilt vertically.
  • the half-wave retarder exchanges polariza­tions, and a scene viewed through the half-wave re­tarder with polarized sunglasses results in the re­duction of perceived glare from horizontally tilted sources (e.g., vertically oriented glass surfaces on an office building), which is essentially a rotation of the reduction of perceived glare of a scene viewed through the windshield portion without the half-wave retarder.
  • horizontally tilted sources e.g., vertically oriented glass surfaces on an office building
  • the imaging illumination source 20 which includes an image source 111 comprising, for example, a segmented or matrix addressable liquid crystal display (LCD) which is configured to provide the appropriate polarization.
  • LCD's are readily available devices and can be obtained from Seiko of Japan, for example.
  • a spectrally narrow source such as light emitting diodes available from Stanley could be utilized with an appropriate polarizer for the LED outputs.
  • the image source can comprise a high intensity vacuum fluorescent display (VFD) with an appropriate polarizer.
  • VFD vacuum fluorescent display
  • VFD's are known display devices which are commercially available, for example, from Futaba Corporation of America, Madison, Michigan, and commonly include segmented elements that are selec­tively energizable to form light emitting numerical and/or alphabetical symbols, as well as other indicia.
  • Inputs to the image source 111 are provided by appropriate transducing circuitry to display selected vehicle and/or engine operating parameters and condi­tions.
  • a planar fold mirror 113 secured in the housing 110 relays the imaging illumination from the image source 111 to an off-axis, aspheric mirror 115, also secured in the housing 110, which in turn relays the imaging illumination through a transparent cover 117 to the combiner element 11. While a relay mirror is included, it should be appreciated that depending on the location of the image source 111 in the imaging illumination source 20 and the location of the imaging illumination source 20 relative to the windshield, the relay mirror might not be necessary. It should also be appreciated that with an odd number of reflecting elements (e.g., three), the image source 111 must adapted to be a mirror image of the intended virtual image. With an even number of reflecting elements (e.g., two), the image source 111 would be adapted to be oriented the same as the intended virtual image.
  • the aspheric mirror 115 is generally concave and magnifies the image relayed to the combiner element 11, and further functions to locate the virtual image rela­tively far ahead of the observer.
  • the particular curvatures of the aspheric mirror can be defined so as to compensate for the distortion introduced by the off-axis configuration of the aspheric mirror and the distortion introduced by the curvatures of the wind­shield.
  • an aspheric mirror 115 is included in the foregoing illustrative example, a flat mirror could be utilized if it is not necessary to locate the virtual image relatively far ahead of the observer. It should also be realized that the mirrors 113 and 115 could be eliminated by directing the image source directly at the combiner 11.

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  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Optics & Photonics (AREA)
  • Instrument Panels (AREA)
  • Control Of Indicators Other Than Cathode Ray Tubes (AREA)
  • Devices For Indicating Variable Information By Combining Individual Elements (AREA)
EP19900120553 1989-10-27 1990-10-26 Polarized head up display Withdrawn EP0424950A3 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US42814389A 1989-10-27 1989-10-27
US428143 1989-10-27

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0424950A2 true EP0424950A2 (fr) 1991-05-02
EP0424950A3 EP0424950A3 (en) 1992-03-04

Family

ID=23697718

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP19900120553 Withdrawn EP0424950A3 (en) 1989-10-27 1990-10-26 Polarized head up display

Country Status (4)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0424950A3 (fr)
JP (1) JP2598567B2 (fr)
KR (1) KR930006446B1 (fr)
CA (1) CA2026429C (fr)

Cited By (11)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0520340A2 (fr) * 1991-06-24 1992-12-30 Yazaki Corporation Appareil d'affichage pour véhicule
WO1995013557A1 (fr) * 1993-11-08 1995-05-18 Scientific Generics Limited Systemes et procedes de visualisation
EP0710866A1 (fr) * 1994-10-14 1996-05-08 Pilkington Plc Unité de projection pour afficheur tête haute automobile
EP0747750A1 (fr) * 1995-06-07 1996-12-11 OIS Optical Imaging Systems, Inc. LCD ayant des réflexions réduites sur la verrière
WO1997027422A1 (fr) * 1996-01-23 1997-07-31 Roland Bouillart Procedes et dispositifs de polarisation pour l'amelioration de la visibilite notamment dans les mobiles
EP0778440A3 (fr) * 1995-12-05 1998-08-26 Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. Dispositif d'éclairage arrière et dispositif d'affichage couleur
EP1291700A1 (fr) * 2001-09-07 2003-03-12 Siemens Aktiengesellschaft Afficheur tête haute
WO2005071463A1 (fr) * 2004-01-21 2005-08-04 Siemens Aktiengesellschaft Systeme de vision tete haute, a ecran a cristaux liquides eclairable par une source lumineuse, s'utilisant dans des automobiles, des avions ou des bateaux
WO2006124040A2 (fr) * 2004-06-28 2006-11-23 Honeywell International Inc. Collimateur de pilotage
EP1746453A3 (fr) * 2005-07-19 2007-03-07 Sanyo Epson Imaging Devices Corporation Système d'affichage tête haute
EP3761086A1 (fr) * 2014-09-29 2021-01-06 Honeywell International Inc. Appareil pour supprimer des images doubles sur un combinateur d'affichage tête haute

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JP5101257B2 (ja) * 2007-11-26 2012-12-19 株式会社東芝 ヘッドアップディスプレイ用光学フィルム、ヘッドアップディスプレイ及び移動体

Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2750833A (en) * 1956-06-19 Inven tor
DE3347271A1 (de) * 1983-12-28 1985-07-18 Daimler Benz Ag Optische einrichtung an kraftwagen
JPH02141720A (ja) * 1988-11-23 1990-05-31 Nippon Denso Co Ltd ヘッドアップディスプレイ装置

Family Cites Families (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPS6145218A (ja) * 1984-08-10 1986-03-05 Nissan Motor Co Ltd 車両用表示装置

Patent Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2750833A (en) * 1956-06-19 Inven tor
DE3347271A1 (de) * 1983-12-28 1985-07-18 Daimler Benz Ag Optische einrichtung an kraftwagen
JPH02141720A (ja) * 1988-11-23 1990-05-31 Nippon Denso Co Ltd ヘッドアップディスプレイ装置

Non-Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
PATENT ABSTRACTS OF JAPAN vol. 14, no. 376 (P-1092)(4319) 14 August 1990 & JP-A-2 141 720 ( NIPPON DENSO ) 31 May 1990 *

Cited By (19)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0520340A3 (en) * 1991-06-24 1993-12-22 Yazaki Corp Automotive display apparatus
EP0520340A2 (fr) * 1991-06-24 1992-12-30 Yazaki Corporation Appareil d'affichage pour véhicule
WO1995013557A1 (fr) * 1993-11-08 1995-05-18 Scientific Generics Limited Systemes et procedes de visualisation
EP0710866A1 (fr) * 1994-10-14 1996-05-08 Pilkington Plc Unité de projection pour afficheur tête haute automobile
US5715028A (en) * 1995-06-07 1998-02-03 Ois Optical Imaging Systems, Inc. LCD with reduced canopy reflection
EP0747750A1 (fr) * 1995-06-07 1996-12-11 OIS Optical Imaging Systems, Inc. LCD ayant des réflexions réduites sur la verrière
US5963280A (en) * 1995-12-05 1999-10-05 Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. Backlighting device and color display device
EP0778440A3 (fr) * 1995-12-05 1998-08-26 Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. Dispositif d'éclairage arrière et dispositif d'affichage couleur
US6144424A (en) * 1995-12-05 2000-11-07 Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. Backlighting device
WO1997027422A1 (fr) * 1996-01-23 1997-07-31 Roland Bouillart Procedes et dispositifs de polarisation pour l'amelioration de la visibilite notamment dans les mobiles
EP1291700A1 (fr) * 2001-09-07 2003-03-12 Siemens Aktiengesellschaft Afficheur tête haute
US6886971B2 (en) 2001-09-07 2005-05-03 Siemens Aktiengesellschaft Headup display
WO2005071463A1 (fr) * 2004-01-21 2005-08-04 Siemens Aktiengesellschaft Systeme de vision tete haute, a ecran a cristaux liquides eclairable par une source lumineuse, s'utilisant dans des automobiles, des avions ou des bateaux
WO2006124040A2 (fr) * 2004-06-28 2006-11-23 Honeywell International Inc. Collimateur de pilotage
WO2006124040A3 (fr) * 2004-06-28 2007-01-11 Honeywell Int Inc Collimateur de pilotage
US7482996B2 (en) 2004-06-28 2009-01-27 Honeywell International Inc. Head-up display
EP1746453A3 (fr) * 2005-07-19 2007-03-07 Sanyo Epson Imaging Devices Corporation Système d'affichage tête haute
US7602450B2 (en) 2005-07-19 2009-10-13 Epson Imaging Devices Corporation Heads-up display system
EP3761086A1 (fr) * 2014-09-29 2021-01-06 Honeywell International Inc. Appareil pour supprimer des images doubles sur un combinateur d'affichage tête haute

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
EP0424950A3 (en) 1992-03-04
CA2026429A1 (fr) 1991-04-28
JPH03153424A (ja) 1991-07-01
KR930006446B1 (ko) 1993-07-16
CA2026429C (fr) 1995-02-14
KR910007728A (ko) 1991-05-30
JP2598567B2 (ja) 1997-04-09

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